Ahanaf (pseudonym) is 17, and Antara (pseudonym) is 14. They are siblings. Their family consists of four members, including their parents. Although everyone has their own office, school, or college, they almost always have dinner together. They make time to sit together, talk, watch movies, and go out on holidays. They enjoy each other’s company and share their feelings, both good and bad, with their family.
On the other hand, Adnan (pseudonym) is 13, and his sister Yuthir (pseudonym) is 19. Their family also consists of four members, including their parents. Yuthir is often seen busy with her mobile phone, while Adnan is engaged with gaming on his laptop. They eat separately, sometimes in their rooms with their plates, or in front of the laptop. Occasionally, they are seen eating together at a restaurant. However, the four family members rarely sit together at home. Each one spends time alone in their rooms, with the doors closed.
On social media, there has been a lot of discussion about these two types of families. Adnan-Antara’s family is referred to as a ‘living room family,’ while Adnan-Yuthir’s family is considered a ‘bedroom family.’ Both types of families have their own arguments in favor of them. For the development of children, family bonding, and personality development, which type of family is comparatively better? In a living room family, the bond between members is strong, while some argue that in a bedroom family, individuals get more time for themselves, as there is more “me-time.”
Characteristics of a Bedroom Family:
Me-Time: In this type of family, members create their own separate world in their rooms, where personal time and privacy are given more importance.
Independently Active: Most of the time, they are active on TV, computers, or mobile phones.
Less Time Together: Family members spend less time together. Even members of a bedroom family are less socially active.
Characteristics of a Living Room Family:
Spending More Time Together: It is seen that, on most days, family members spend time together at the dining table or in the living room. Such families enjoy chatting together, love eating meals together, watch TV, and play indoor games like carom, ludo, or others.
Sharing Feelings: They don’t just stay together, but also share their feelings with each other.
Open with the Family: When someone feels down, they share it with the family. They don’t have the habit of hiding much from one another.
Which is better?
In a bedroom family, the visible family bond is weaker. However, since they get more “me-time” (personal time), they create their own personal space. They can grow up to be independent and self-reliant. Sometimes, they may focus more on studies or personal tasks. At times, their sense of responsibility increases. However, due to less family interaction, they may not be aware of each other’s problems. The lack of emotional expression may lead to feelings of loneliness. Additionally, for teenagers, spending time alone in their rooms may result in less supervision from parents, which can lead to unwanted behaviors, internet addiction, and safety concerns.
In a living room family, the family bond is strong. Everyone participates in solving one another’s problems. However, in this case, privacy is limited. Especially for teenagers, they may sometimes feel overwhelmed and lose their sense of individuality. At times, their self-reliance may develop less. They may also have less focus on studies or personal tasks. Members of this family tend to become more skilled in socializing.
It cannot be said outright which type of family is better or worse. Instead, a balanced family structure needs to be created by blending both types. For practicing social and familial ethics, and for the safe development of a child under the supervision of parents, a living room family is better. On the other hand, for boosting a child’s self-confidence, attention, and personality development, sometimes the bedroom family approach can be effective.
This means that while family members should spend time together, they should also be encouraged to have their own personal time. While practicing a living room family, it’s important that one person’s personal time is not taken away. Similarly, while practicing a bedroom family structure, it is essential to ensure that no one grows up like an isolated island.
In every family, the practice of spending time in the living room must be maintained. While encouraging activities like chatting, storytelling, or eating together, it is equally important to give everyone the opportunity to have some personal time. If this balance is maintained, the family will become happy, well-organized, and self-reliant.
